2016 Chablis, Les Clos, Grand Cru, Samuel Billaud, Burgundy

Just two barrels were made, using a one-year-old and a two-year-old barrel. Tiny yields of around 15 to 20hl/ha provide outstanding concentration. With jasmine on the nose, the wine is rich and dense in the mouth, with interchanging notes of ripe fruit and marine minerals. It’s presently somewhat backward, as though the contrast is turned up too high, but will gain finesse and integration with time. Drink 2022-2030.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer


The brilliantly talented Samuel Billaud was finding family politics hard going, so he founded his own wine label in Chablis separate from Domaine Billaud-Simon. However with the sale of Domaine Billaud- Simon to Faiveley in 2014, Samuel has got back a proportion of the vineyards for himself. Whether from domaine sources or purchased grapes, Samuel Billaud’s wines demonstrate his exceptional talent. Samuel feels that 2016 is very close in style to the outstanding 2014 vintage, and says that the concentrating effect of hail and frost early in the season, along with the cool ripening period has given a good balance of matière and acidity. This is a very promising set of wines which will gain in weight and complexity with élevage . Samuel is undoubtedly making some of the finest wines in Chablis.